Ultimate Hikes kicks of the 2016 hiking summer

Almost 70 guides were inducted through the Ultimate Hikes programme in advance of the season opening on Tuesday 1st November.

Ultimate Hikes General Manager Noel Saxon welcomed the guides, many of whom are returning for another season taking groups on the Milford and the Routeburn Tracks, located in New Zealand’s picturesque Fiordland National Park.

Saxon stated “this is always an exciting time of the year, and this summer is looking to be our biggest yet.

“It’s great to see some familiar faces as we get ready to take our first guests,” he says.

Saxon says an increase in guides this year has been thanks to strong forward bookings, commenting “our season bookings are looking good but there is still space available across both tracks.

The company has also invested almost a million dollars into the Milford Track over the last year including new accommodation rooms and upgrading utilities.

Saxon added “we have added four new private rooms at Glade House, while further along the track at Quinton Lodge, new laundry and drying rooms have been revamped and expanded.”

Ultimate Hikes, a Trojan Holdings company, operates guided walks - both multi day and day walks - on the Milford and Routeburn Track, as well as the Greenstone Track, which combined with the Routeburn Track, makes up the Grand Traverse.

Ultimate Hikes operates multi day guided walks on the Milford & Routeburn Tracks, located in the Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks. Some dates are still available to walk this season until 18th April 2016.

The 2016/17 season runs from 1st November 2016 to 18th April 2017.

For more information go to www.ultimatehikes.co.nz

Images: Senior guide Moon Soek Kang, who is back for a sixth season, preparing to lead the guides, including (from left to right) Amelia Kinnard, Adie Lawrence and Ella Haig on their final training walk on the Milford Track (top) and Glade House on the Milford Track has four new rooms (below).

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